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Newly diagnosed and confused

Mlish67

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello this is the second time I’ve posted on here. I’ve been diagnosed three weeks told I am type one and I am on insulin. I’m waiting for the antibody test results to confirm whether this is the case I’m on Nova rapid three times a day dosage between 6 to 8 units breakfast lunch and dinner and 20 units of Atlantis. I’ve had no explanation about how much insulin I can take. I’ve been reading about people looking at adjusting their dice according to how many carbs they are eating this I do understand and there is all the information talk about. The ratio this is all very confusing to me. I have spoken to the Diabetes nurses but the calls are very quick and I really need more time to get my head round it. Everything just seems very confusing. I have bought the book think like a pancreas, but there again the author makes it assumption that you know more about Diabetes than I I do in my case I do have a hospital appointment on the 21st to see the Diabetes team so I will ask about that then any information guidance will be gratefully appreciated thank you
 
Hello @Mlish67 I think the hospital will watch for trends before they decide the best dose for you. Obviously we are all different in metabolism and therefore it is hard to truly mimic a human pancreas. It would be unlikely for a hospital team to expect you to adjust doses this early on. I have just found a bundle of hospital notes from August- mid October 1966. It shows exactly how the hospital tweaked doses at the time. But we live in far more sophisticated times now, so regimes can usually be sorted out much more quickly. I would list all your concerns and take them with you on the 21st and I would certainly insist on seeing a consultant. This is by no means to discredit Diabetes nurses, but I have always found that consultants give more time, however busy they are. The other advice I would offer is to post any questions sparked off by reading, whether specific text books or posts on this forum. Hope all goes well.
 
Thank you so much Grant that has been very helpful yes early days I just want to make sure I’m doing the right thing I will take on board what you’ve said for when I have my hospital appointment.
 
i have was given the dsn email address for hospistal dealing with. usually phone calls take longer than an email
if you email you have record of it which will be much more readily accessable if you need to refer to it.

before carb counting i was given a few diabetic dietician appointments. after the first one i was marking down carbs for each meal. based upon levels (with reference to cgm data) the following appt i was given a ratio to try then modified at the following two appointments to 'fine tune'.

the other thing is with recently diagnosed you can perhaps enter a honeymoon period of time which is your pancreas is able to produce some of its own insulin so doses can change pretty dramatically. if your glucose levels are fairly consistantly low they would aim to raise them by decreasing the amount, if your glucose levels are consistantly high they will aim to lower them by giving a higher dose. It can take several weeks before the levels stablise somewhat.

I presume they have given you a cgm meter as currently classed as type1? if not ask for one. Whilst waiting to ask order a trial from abbots. https://www.freestyle.abbott/uk-en/getting-started/sampling.html which will give you a couple of weeks to experiment a little bit by yourself on effects exercise and various food types have on you.

best wishes
 
Thank you grant I will check if they have given me an email address that makes sense. My brain is frazzled with all the information right now. I’m trying to low carb where I can but then I feel I’m eating less carbs to the amount of insulin im taking so then that’s when I think I should be taking less units. I worry as I had DKA three weeks ago as I was diagnosed as type 2 and originally on metformin.
I do have a meter which I use to check my blood glucose levels is that a CGM? I haven’t considered the freestyle libre as I thought I needed to wait for my appointment I did want to go for that as it would do much better. I will write down my concerns and questions. I have heard of this honeymoon period. This forum is so informative thank you again.
 
To be perfectly honest I'd be VERY careful with trying straight to low carb. a large difference between carbs that you ate prior to taking insulin can have a huge effect it will not be doing any favours and currently as relatively new to insulin (and info overload) may increase chances of hypo. CGM is constant glucose monitor. NHS seems to prefer libre. Dexcom also have a trial. Libre2/3 plus lasts 15 days. Dexcom 10 days. I had DKA end of Jan with hba1c 162 so understandable scared to get again. You've ran higher sugar levels for a while body will be adjusting to lower levels. It's a marathon not a sprint to get things under control. Exercise etc can reduce insulin requirements as well.. it's better to run a little higher than hypo which can result unchecked into possible seizures or coma. Don't get too hung up on numbers
 
Thank you Grant that makes perfect sense i must agree with the overload and the numbers I too don’t want another DKA glad you’re ok now. The adjustments and information is overload and not be drastic either low carb definitely would not want a hypo they sound very scary. Thank you again
 
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